OTAHKIANS IMPROVE TO 2-0 IN OVC

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. -- Southeast Missouri State University's women's basketball team pulled away in the last five minutes in its 69-55 victory over Ohio Valley Conference foe Austin Peay.

The win, before 225 fans Saturday at Dave Aaron Arena, improved Southeast's conference record to 2-0 heading into a three-week break from games. Southeast, which won its first OVC contest 70-59 at Eastern Illinois, will next play Jan. 2 at home against OVC mate Eastern Kentucky.

The Otahkians, 7-2 overall, are off to their best start since the 1990-91 season, their last in Division II. Southeast went just 8-19 last season and 5-21 the season before.

Southeast shooting guard Rusty Sowers went 7 of 12 from the floor, including 3 of 6 on 3-pointers, and finished with a game-high 17 points.

Reagan Hughston, a 6-foot-1 freshman, added 10 points on 5 of 8 shooting and a team-high nine rebounds off the bench.

"She was more aggressive today," said Southeast coach Ed Arnzen. "She has tremendous ability. I kept hoping by the time OVC play came around she would improve, and she has."

On top 31-28 at halftime, Southeast led 56-50 with 5 minutes 17 seconds remaining. A jumper and a layup from Hughston, followed by a Pam Iversen layup, pushed the Otahkians ahead 65-52 with 1:44 to go.

Southeast held 6-1 Austin Peay center Quinn Sullivan, who was averaging 17 points entering the game, to nine points on 3 of 10 shooting. Guard Kelly Chavez's 16 points paced Austin Peay, which fell to 1-6 overall and 1-1 in the OVC.